Best Chess Top 100 Games 2025: Top 7 Picks
Explore our 'chess top 100' favorites, featuring strategy gems that tickle your brain and provide endless fun for new players.
Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of board games in the chess top 100 list? Fear not, our guide has got you covered! We’ve sifted through countless options to bring you our top seven picks. We focused on games that offer strategic depth, replayability, and a dash of fun. Expect twists, turns, and brain-tingling challenges that will keep you on your toes. Without spilling the beans, we promise each game on this list offers a fresh twist on the classic chess experience. Ready to checkmate boredom with some new favorites?
On this list:
7 Onitama
Onitama is like the lovechild of chess and martial arts. You get this cool, mini board with only five squares by five. Each player gets five pieces to shuffle around, and the goal is simple but oh-so-fun: capture your opponent’s master or march into their temple. It’s fast-paced and strategic, perfect for a quick game night. We’ve played it dozens of times, and Wes always wins. We think he cheats.
6 Hive
Hive is strategy in its purest form. It doesn’t even need a board! You can play it on any flat surface. It’s about building a hive of hexagonal tiles, each with its own special bug powers. The queen bee is the key to winning. In our group, we have a guy named Tony who thinks he’s a bug whisperer. He might be right, considering how often he wins this one.
5 Santorini
This game lets you play as gods building on the Greek island of Santorini. Instead of capturing pieces like in chess, you’re busy building domes. It’s a 3D puzzle of sorts, and the divine powers each player has adds a wild twist. Our buddy Greg thought going up levels would improve his height in real life. Spoiler: it didn’t, but the game sure soared in our rankings!
4 Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
In Tash-Kalar, you’re stepping into a magical battlefield. Summon mighty beasts and weave spells in a game of tactical skirmishes. It’s like chess with wizards and beasts! Carol, our friend, always acts like her summoned beasts have personal grudges against us. It adds an extra layer of hilarity to every game night.
3 The Duke
The Duke is a headscratchers paradise. You draw tiles from a bag and place them on the board, with each tile having its own unique movement style – like chess pieces but much fresher. It’s a battle of wits and randomness. Lisa always draws the strongest tiles. We’re pretty sure she’s in cahoots with the bag.
2 Tigris & Euphrates
This one’s a classic. In Tigris & Euphrates, you’re vying for control over the ancient Mesopotamian regions. It’s not just about strategy; it’s about playing your tiles and leaders wisely and knowing when to trigger conflicts. The dynamics change every game, and the board can look wildly different by the end. Jake, our strategist, loves it when he can yell ‘Eureka!’ at his brilliant (but often thwarted) plans.
1 The Gallerist
The Gallerist lands as the top pick in our chess top 100 because it’s a rich, multifaceted game, blending the strategy you adore in chess with the thrilling world of art. Here, you become art dealers, curators, and managers. Every decision feels crucial. It’s complex, but incredibly rewarding, as our friend Sam, the art enthusiast, would second. He once tried to swap art dealings with opening moves in chess. Let’s just say his strategy is still a work in progress!
